wistful English · revision 1236

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈwɪstfəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably from obsolete ''wistly'' “intently”^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) and the suffix [[-ful]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) perhaps on the model of [[wishful]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) ''Wistly'' is of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Random House derives it instead from obsolete ''wist'' “quiet, attentive”, a variant of ''whist''.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Closely attentive, intent (1613–16).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense of being yearningly eager or mournfully longing appeared in 1714,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) chiefly of looks.^(OED 1989) The first sense is obsolete.^(OED 1989) Etymonline notes that an earlier Middle English ''wistful'' meaning “well-supplied” is a different word.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1500 – ''wistly'', intently.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1613–16 – closely attentive, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1714 – yearning, wistful.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Full of yearning or longing tinged with sadness.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Pensive and sad; [[melancholy]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[wistfully]]

+ * [[wistfulness]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''reflective'', ''musing'', ''meditative'' and ''forlorn'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}